Orange County Executive Ed Diana, seated at right, called in his physician, Dr. Edward Croen, to brief reporters at a news conference. Diana said he wanted to quell rumors about his health and avoid surprising the public with the news that he has been hospitalized for a liver transplant, whenever that day comes.

Diana on waiting list for a liver transplant

By BY CHRIS MCKENNA

Times Herald-Record

November 29, 2012 - 2:00 AM

Orange County Executive Ed Diana announced Wednesday that he's suffering from a liver disease that requires him to get a liver transplant and could take him out of office for up to 10 weeks while he recovers from surgery.

Flanked by his wife, his daughter and a doctor at a news conference in Goshen, Diana told reporters that his ailment, known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, has caused his liver to deteriorate, but that he feels fine and plans to continue working until he undergoes surgery. He said he's on a waiting list for an organ donation and doesn't know when a match is likely to be found.

Diana said he decided to reveal his condition to quell rumors about his health and avoid surprising the public with the news that he has been hospitalized for a liver transplant, whenever that day comes.

"Let me assure that I feel well, I feel great," he said.

Speculation about his health

The announcement settled long-running speculation about Diana's medical condition, triggered by his gaunt, sometimes jaundiced appearance and reports of his being treated at hospitals in Orange County and New York City. He looked so ill recently that some lawmakers expected him to resign for health reasons when he abruptly summoned them to meet with him on Wednesday to discuss an "important issue."

When asked about his condition at a Times Herald-Record editorial board meeting last month, Diana said simply that he was recovering from pancreatitis, and didn't mention his liver ailment or give any indication he had continuing health problems.

After his news conference on Wednesday, Diana explained that he was referring then to a pancreatic inflammation he suffered more than three years ago, when he had his gallbladder removed and a gall stone became lodged in a pancreatic duct. It was during that operation, he said, that doctors discovered he had the liver disease. He said he has been awaiting a liver transplant for about six months.

Disease not uncommon

Appearing at the news conference with Diana was Edward Croen, a gastroenterologist at Crystal Run Healthcare who said he has been treating Diana for his liver illness for several years. Dr. Croen said the disease itself is not uncommon, but is rarely serious enough to require a transplant.

He said Diana is in good condition to undergo such an operation and should be able to resume full work duties once he recuperates. He also said there is no medical reason for Diana to stop working before then.

Diana met privately with county lawmakers to discuss his condition immediately before holding the news conference in his office suite at the county Emergency Services Center. He said he plans to have his second-in-command, Deputy County Executive James O'Donnell, serve as acting county executive while he recovers from surgery.

Diana, who has been waging bruising political battles over the fate of the county Government Center and nursing home while contending with his medical troubles, reiterated Wednesday that he plans to run for a fourth term next year. Two fellow Republicans, Steve Neuhaus and Michael Sweeton, already have launched campaigns for county executive.

Later on Wednesday, Diana attended a meeting of the Legislature's Ways & Means Committee, where he was scheduled to discuss the Legislature's effort to fund the Valley View Center for Nursing Care and Rehabilitation for all of 2013, in spite of his push to sell the facility by Feb. 1.

Diana, who is expected to veto the budget changes the Legislature made to sustain Valley View, declined to discuss his veto plans when his turn came at the end of the committee's agenda. Instead, he told lawmakers he will give them his decision in writing by Friday. If he vetoes their amendments, legislators have until Dec. 15 to decide whether to override him.

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What they're saying

“I don't think today was a political event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the county executive, and we wish him the best. We hope his prognosis is as stated, he'll get his transplant, and he'll have a full recovery. That's what we all hope for.”